The Asian Games 2023 at Hangzhou, China is up and rumbling from September 23.
India have sent a 655-member contingent to the games to the 19th edition of the continental multisport event which got postponed by a year due to Covid-19.
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At the last edition of the games in Jakarta in 2018, India fielded a robust squad of 570 athletes, resulting in their best-ever Asian Games performance. The team secured an impressive total of 70 medals, including 16 gold, 23 silver, and 31 bronze.
Athletics has historically been a key contributor to India's medal tally at the Asian Games, accounting for a substantial portion of their success. Out of the 672 medals won by India in the history of the games, 254 have come from track and field events.
For the Hangzhou 2023 edition, India has assembled a strong contingent of 68 athletes in athletics, marking the largest representation in any sport.
The Indian athletics squad boasts prominent names such as Neeraj Chopra, the reigning world, Olympic, and Asian Games champion in the men's javelin throw. Additionally, Avinash Sable, who clinched the silver medal in the Commonwealth Games men's 3000m steeplechase, and Jyothi Yarraji, a sensation in women's hurdles, are also part of the squad.
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Who are India's first medal winners at Asian Games 2023?
India secured its first medal at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou in the women's 10m air rifle team event, with the trio of Ramita Jindal, Mehuli Ghosh, and Ashi Chouksey clinching the silver medal.
They achieved a total score of 1886 during the qualification round. China claimed the gold medal with a score of 1896.6, while Mongolia secured the bronze with a score of 1880.
During the qualification round, China's Han Jiayu set a new Qualification Asian Record with an outstanding score of 634.1, surpassing the previous mark set by her compatriot Zhao Ruozhu in New Delhi in 2019.
Meanwhile, Ramita finished 2nd with a score of 631.9, and Mehuli Ghosh secured 5th place with a score of 630.8 during the qualification round. Both of them qualified for the individual final. On the other hand, Ashi Chouksey finished 29th with a score of 623.3.
In a matter of minutes, India claimed their second medal as Tokyo Olympians Arjun Lal Jat and Arvind Singh secured silver in the lightweight men's doubles sculls final. They completed the race with a time of 6 minutes and 28.18 seconds.
Arjun and Arvind's journey to the final was impressive as well. They ranked first in the repechage 1 event on September 21, and were one of the firm favourites for a podium finish.
"Rowing their way to glory! 🚣♂️🥈
— SAI Media (@Media_SAI) September 24, 2023
🇮🇳 secure SILVER in the Rowing lightweight men's double sculls event
Our #TOPSchemeAthletes (Core) @OLYArjun and Arvind Singh representing 🇮🇳 finished with a timing of 06:28:18 🚣🏻#Cheer4India#Hallabol#JeetegaBharat#BharatAtAG22 pic.twitter.com/cOPhZ5fVnc
Who is Ramita Jindal?
Ramita Jindal is an accomplished rifle shooter hailing from Ladwa, District Kurukshetra. Her journey in the world of rifle shooting began when she was just in the 8th grade, at the tender age of 13. Her dedication and passion for the sport led her to the Karan Shooting Academy in Ladwa, where she started her rigorous training.
In the initial stages of her training, Ramita dedicated 1 to 2 hours daily, but her commitment only grew stronger with time. After attending Aggarsain Public School in Kurukshetra during the day she used to honing her shooting skills at the range in the evening.
Her remarkable talent quickly became evident as she secured regular podium finishes in district and state level shooting competitions, ultimately earning her place in national Competitions. Following are her achievements in shooting at international tournaments:
World Ranking: Ramita Jindal is currently ranked 11th in the world in the 10m Air Rifle event, a testament to her exceptional skills and dedication.
Gold Medals: She clinched two Gold medals during the World Championship in Cairo in 2022, excelling in both the 10m Air Rifle Women's individual event and the team event.
Gold Medal at World Cup: Ramita secured a Gold medal at the World Cup held in Baku in 2022, contributing to her team's victory.
Silver Medal at World Cup: In another World Cup event held in Changwon in 2022, she added to her accolades with a Silver medal in the team event.
Who is Mehuli Ghosh?
Mehuli Ghosh, born on November 20, 2000, has consistently represented India at international championships around the world.
In the 2018 junior shooting competition held in the Czech Republic, Mehuli stood out as the sole Indian athlete among 123 competitors to reach the finals, an impressive feat in itself. She finished in seventh place, highlighting her potential.
In March 2018, she etched her name in history by becoming one of the youngest Indian competitors to win two World Cup medals at the ISSF World Cup in Mexico. During this competition, she set a new Junior World Record, underlining her exceptional talent.
Her international success continued as she qualified to participate in the Commonwealth Games in 2018, where she won a silver medal in the Women's 10m Air Rifle event after a shoot-off with Martina Veloso. In 2019, she added another feather to her cap by winning gold at the South Asian Games in Nepal.
Mehuli Ghosh's most recent achievement came at the ISSF World Championship 2023 in Baku, where she secured a bronze medal in the 10m Air Rifle individual event, earning an Olympic quota for India at the Paris Games 2024.
Who is Ashi Chouksey?
Ashi Chouksey is currently ranked 56th in the world in the 50m 3P (Three Positions) event.
Chouksey achieved a remarkable feat by winning a Gold Medal at the ISSF World Cup held in Baku in 2022 in the mixed team event.
Her talent shone through as she secured a Bronze Medal at the ISSF World Cup in Changwon in 2022 in women's team event.
"It's a very proud moment for us that it's the first medal for the Asian Games. We were prepared and confident that we would get a medal. This is my first medal for the Air Rifle. I am happy for the medal...", Chouksey told ANI after securing the silver medal at the Asian Games.
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